The Supreme Court has granted a stay of execution on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant, following an application filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament. This decision temporarily halts the enforcement of the ruling, which would have affected three NPP MPs and one from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The application was filed ex parte, allowing the Court to consider the NPP MPs’ request without input from Speaker Bagbin or Parliament. A panel of Supreme Court justices, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, heard the case. Other panel members included Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, and Justice Yaw Darko Asare.
Lawyers Paa Kwesi Abaidoo and former Attorney General Joe Ghartey represented the NPP MPs, successfully arguing for the stay. This ruling maintains the four MPs’ seats for now.
The impacted MPs are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), who either ran as independent candidates or switched party affiliations for the 2024 elections.
Consequently, the NDC now claims a majority with 136 seats, surpassing the governing NPP’s 135 seats, prompting leadership changes in Parliament.
